XBOX 360 – Rare Video Games Auctions, Sales & Pricinghttp://www.gamesniped.com
gameSniped.comThu, 01 Dec 2016 00:17:34 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.5GameSniped Video Game Review of Metal Gear Solid 5http://www.gamesniped.com/2015/09/18/metal-gear-solid-5-review/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2015/09/18/metal-gear-solid-5-review/#respondFri, 18 Sep 2015 20:06:48 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=26776What the Metal Gear series has done for the stealth game genre is well known and has garnered praise through every full entry. This latest installment, Metal Gear Solid 5 : The Phantom Pain is no different, but it does set a new path for what fans can expect from the stealth game series. Players are tasked with different strategies as they take on different tactical missions all while controlling Big Boss in an open world forum not seen before in the franchise. Konami has decided to reduce the cinematic cut scenes which gives you more time to lose yourself in missions that help you to beef up your army and fortify your home base. As we all know, legendary creator Hideo Kojima and publisher Konami have parted ways, and not on the best of terms. If this truly is his last hurrah as the head of the MGS franchise Kojima has given us a memorable and fantastic gift worthy of his name. Read on for more details in my Metal Gear Solid Phantom Pain review.

Metal Gear Solid 5 Phantom Pain Gameplay Synopsis

If you are a fan of the Metal Gear series you know that Phantom Pain is the latest in a continual narrative arc that reaches back to the series inception, 1987's Metal Gear. This is great for fans that are invested in the story and characters, but perhaps a little daunting for players just now being introduced to the Metal Gear Solid series. But what makes Phantom Pain stand out from previous Metal Gear entries is that the story is placed on the backburner.

Now before veterans of the series start to gripe let me explain in further detail. The story is still important or it wouldn't bear the Metal Gear name. But it isn't the narrative that drives the player to finish. In Metal Gear Solid 5 you are Big Boss. Your task is to help establish his legend (see, I got you MGS vets back, didn't I?) by building an army. You must disrupt the machinations of the antagonist Skull Face, who some will remember from Metal Gear Solid 5 Ground Zeroes. As Big Boss begins to step into the shoes of the legend he will become, he will confront very thought-provoking and surprising subject matter that will showcase why Kojima is a master story teller. I won't spoil these for you but vets and newcomers alike will be enthralled with the story. And if the story is not your thing you can actually bypass it if you want. In a departure from previous entries key story elements are now put into optional audio files. This means that crucial narrative information that will explain some of the games major developments must be sought after, and it is up to the gamer to discover. While I love all of the details of the story and listened to every audio log, for those only interested in the gameplay they might decide to disregard them altogether.

Metal Gear Solid 5 Gameplay Mechanics

The choice to eliminate cutscenes and story sequences allows you to delve into the mission based action of the game. There are a number of different activities that you can engage in such as sabotaging the enemies operations and stealing resources. At the game's core, the mechanics mirror that of Ground Zeroes. They do have the addition of the buddy system, which I wasn't a particular fan of. Not because of any downgrade in playability. In fact, they were fairly easy to operate and each one has a unique contribution to the battle. I just prefer going solo in my stealth games. But hey, that's me.

Missions in Phantom Pain are well crafted and there are multiple options for you to achieve your goal. Where previous entries are designed with a linear path where you have a particular weapon to complete a mission, Metal Gear Solid 5 missions assume nothing. So if you don't have that certain weapon that you need to make a mission go a little easier there are different paths for you to choose. Phantom Pain uses a day/night cycle, so use the cover of darkness as your ally, or use the weather elements to aid you. Fog, sandstorms, and rain can make prisoner extraction a little easier. Each mission is open for experimentation with the resources available to you at that moment. This helps create a sense of unique individuality in your mission; YOU are creating Big Boss's legacy.

And all of your activities as Big Boss have one endgame: improving your army. This brings us to the highlight of Metal Gear Solid PhantomPain- Mother Base. This symbolizes your power to outside forces and becomes the reason that you keep knocking out missions. Each completed objective and activity rewards you with currency which you then invest into upgrading Mother Base. Walking around the base and seeing how all of your hard work has paid off is amazingly rewarding. The drive to keep improving Mother Base became the sole focal point of my time spent with Phantom Pain.

Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain Verdict

95 out of 100 points

Metal Gear Solid 5 is a rock solid game, but it does have a few hiccups. As I stated before I was not a big fan of the buddy system, but it in no way hindered my experience. It's just personal preference. And even though there is still a story there, the game just doesn't focus on it like in previous entries. It was a little strange but only because I expect that from a Metal Gear game. But the big gripe I have is the fast-travel system. For one thing it's not fast. I found it difficult to move from one objective to another. The system was very clunky and not something I expect from a series with such great mechanics.

If this truly is Hideo Kojima's sendoff, he leaves on a high note. It's amazing to think back on how it started and where it is today. But Kojima's legacy will be remembered for sustaining a series for a long period of time and at such a high level. It really is a rare occurrence. In order to accomplish this goal, the Metal Gear series has taken risks in order to evolve, and these risks always paid off. Phantom Pain is no different. By changing the traditional staples of the series and introducing new elements- the open world exploration, customizable base of operations, and multi-path mission structure- Metal Gear Solid 5 is a worthy entry in a storied franchise.

Platform

]]>http://www.gamesniped.com/2015/09/18/metal-gear-solid-5-review/feed/0Rarest Video Games Post 2000 – Collectors Editions and Other Goodieshttp://www.gamesniped.com/2015/03/06/rarest-video-games-post-2000/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2015/03/06/rarest-video-games-post-2000/#commentsFri, 06 Mar 2015 16:38:04 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=25386Video game collecting broke into the mainstream news about a month ago when a pristine, unopened copy of Stadium Events (!) sold for around the $40,000 mark. Now look, I certainly don't jive with the idea of paying for half of a home's mortgage on an old video game. With that being said, Stadium Events nes represents a serious collector's piece. I get it. I wouldn't spend that much on collecting video games. But, to each his own. When the media write stories like this, they fail to realize that video games are subject to the same economic factors as any other good or service. Supply vs demand determine the prices. In the case of Stadium Events nes, supplies are extremely low!

I began to think that maybe it would be prudent to put together a solid list of the rarest video games for those of you who began collecting after the 90's. I mean, there are plenty of affordable rare games to be snatched up on eBay right now. And just like anything else, as these items age and become even more rare, the prices will adjust accordingly. My list of the rarest video games for the bargain hunter includes collectors editions/limited editions, rare Dreamcast games, rare PS3 games, rare Xbox games, and more.

Mass Effect Limited Edition Xbox 360 - Not to be confused with any of the various collectors editions or sequels. The original 2007 Mass Effect 1 limited edition for Xbox has risen in price and rarity in recent years. If you're serious about collecting, snag a copy up. This will be worth quite a bit one day. There's currently one on eBay in pristine/unopened condition with a BIN of $199.99.

Luigi's Mansion - You can pick up a second hand copy pretty cheap ($1 to $20ish depending on condition). Unopened copies of these rare Dreamcast games sell anywhere from $50 to $200.

World of Warcraft Collectors Edition - Burning Crusades, The Lich King, Cataclysm. It really doesn't matter which edition you're looking at. Sealed copies of WOW are starting to sell high. The prices are beginning to get astronomical here as they creep up to prices near the $4000 mark. Perhaps these games could see prices like stadium events nes in the next 5 to 10 years from now.

Dead Space Ultra Limited Edition - With name like that, what do you expect. The difference between Dead Space is that the other games are only expensive when you purchase sealed/mint copies. With Dead Space, the added bonus items (art books, autographs, making of DVD's, etc.) drive up the price. Right now, eBay has a sealed copy ($999.99 BIN) and a gently used (read open but not scratched up) copy ($699.99). The prices are only going north as time passes.

Uncharted 2: Fortune Hunter Edition - You can't discuss rare PS3 games without mentioning Uncharted 2. That's because the FH edition for Uncharted 2 comes packed in an art book signed by the game's designers and complete with a replica dagger. Pretty cool. But, be prepared to fork over between $2000 to $5000 for a used copy and your left kidney for an unopened copy. This one is rare and probably out of the reach for us common plebes.

Zelda Twilight Princess DS Demo - Couldn't actually find this on ebay at the moment. They were much more common in the last decade. These cartridges still pop up from time to ebay. Check back from time to time. Keep in mind, this isn't an actual game. Nintendo basically packed E3 demo photage of TP into a cart to play on your Nintendo DS.

Monster Kingdom Jewel Summoner - Most Atlas games are rare and expensive. Luckily, being on the PSP platform tones down the price for certain collector's items. Monster Kingdom takes the cake with prices near $100 for an unopened/sealed copy. Rare PSP games offer a serious bargain for the patient collector!

]]>http://www.gamesniped.com/2015/03/06/rarest-video-games-post-2000/feed/2Metal Gear Solid 5 Ground Zeroes GameSniped Reviewhttp://www.gamesniped.com/2015/01/15/metal-gear-solid/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2015/01/15/metal-gear-solid/#commentsThu, 15 Jan 2015 21:29:30 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=25180So, did you guys guess the big surprise? I wondered if the Konami themed post would give it away. We’ve decided to do something a little different from our normal post. Keep in mind that the site thrives around you guys. So, if you like the idea, make sure you tell me in the comment section below. If you hate the idea, please don’t hesitate to tell me that as well. I definitely want to ensure that we’re running the sort of content you guys want to read. With that being said, I’d like to introduce you guys to the first ever GameSniped video game review. I’ve been a long time fan of MGS and Metal Gear (since the first game made its appearance on the NES actually). With all of the buzz surrounding the new FPS mod for the PC port of MGS and the approaching release of the second half, The Phantom Pain, I decided to focus on reviewing last year’s critically acclaimed release. Without delay, I present to you the Metal Gear Solid 5 Ground Zeroes GameSniped Review.

Today’s GameSniped Review focuses on last year’s release of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. Konami surrounded the title and its launch date in secrecy for quite a long time. They were trying to build up hype based off of past successes. Did they succeeded per this reviewer’s opinion, or is Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes a misstep for the franchise?

The Plot

In March 1975, the MSF orders Snake (a.k.a. Big Boss) to infiltrate a U.S. black site, Camp Omega, in Cuba. The story takes place just after Peace Walker. This time, Snake must find Cipher. Because of this, he has to rescue Paz Ortega Andrade and Ricardo Valenciano Libre from inside the former refugee camp turned secret prison at Camp Omega. He works alongside Kaz and Huey, against the forces of Skull Face, commander of the XOF.

Initially, Paz is presumed dead. When Chico tries to find her and is in turn detained at Camp Omega, Snake makes it his mission to infiltrate the camp and either find them or verify their deaths. He eventually manages to find and rescue both, only to discover that Paz has had a bomb surgically implanted inside of her. They eventually remove the bomb. Back at Mother Camp, they find themselves under seige from the XOF. They manage to save Miller from Mother Camp and escape of a helicopter called the Morpho One. However, Paz reveals that the XOF planted a second bomb inside her. She flings herself from the helicopter, but still causes it to swerve out of control and crash into an XOF chopper. In the epilogue, we find out the MSF have been all but destroyed. Three characters survived the crash: Snake, Huey, and Miller.

The game also includes four Side Ops, which play out as mini-prequels to this main story line.

The Series

The Metal Gear series was first launched by Konami back in 1987. In the late nineties, Konami and series creator Hideo Kijima branched off in a different direction with the first Metal Gear Solid. The MGS series now reached its fifth game. The games are known for having twisting, convoluted plot lines. MGS 5 is no different. As previously mentioned, Ground Zeroes is the first half of the 5th game. Konami should wrap this series up with the upcoming Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Both these parts of the fifth episode will be released (and are playable) individually. However, they will also be released together as a single stand-alone work.

The Gameplay Mechanics

In the game, the players guide Snake through the map with the goal of completing certain objectives while (ideally) not being revealed by the enemy. This series is known for completely reinventing its game mechanics with each new iteration. #5 is no exception. This entry now boasts an all-new threat detection system, which features visual clues. Snake’s binoculars can now be accessed through a single hotkey instead of equipping them. Enemies can be marked and located via an iDroid app. This app can be used in-game for better threat detection, on both iOS and Android gadgets. Although the Mother Base is not playable, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions allows players to check out other players’ scores and performances.

The game also features a ‘Reflex Mode.’ When the enemy discovers Snake, he is given a very brief window of opportunity to take out an enemy before he can alert others by sounding the alarm. This mode plays out in slow motion. Ground Zeroes boasts seven missions in total which can be unlocked at various points throughout the game. Once players complete the main mission, the game unlocks four additional Side Ops which I found relatively entertaining. The story takes place before Peace Walker and the Phantom Pain, Ground Zeroes can be seen as a sort of introduction to this series which is likely why they made the main mission relatively easy and short. However, the game offers numerous other additional play modes and challenges.

The verdict

85 points out of 100

It looks like all of the buildup worked out Konami. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a very solid game. I’m really not just saying that. Most major gaming outlets swooned over the release of this game. Its ratings currently stand at 9 out of 10 on Steam, 4 out of 5 on MetaCritic (impressive!) and 4.8 out of 5 on AllKeyShop. I do have to dock a few points for game play time. Yes, I realize the game offers bonuses. Yes, I realize that this game is only half (or less) of the Metal Gear Solid V release. But, I was able to beat the main campaign for Ground Zeroes in less than two hours. Most games cost right around the $40 to $60 mark. At $20 brand new, I expected this game to last at least a solid four hours! Instead, we get a two hour, glorified tech demo of the game engine being used for The Phantom Pain. So, MGS V (0.5) does not represent good value for your money.

With that being said, what is on offer here is absolutely incredible. This game offers stunningly beautiful graphics and excellent replay-ability. The fact that the engine was powerful enough for PC modders to turn it into a FPS is a testament to Kajima and Konami. If anything, the short playing time makes me feel even more agitated about getting my hands on the proper MGSV. I loved the direction that Konami went in improving gameplay mechanics. In my opinion, this game marks as big of a change in the series as the leap from MGS 2 to MGS 3. Every time they change these series, you wonder how you ‘managed’ to play the prior game. The changes feel so natural and commonsense. Additionally, the game is filled to the brim with all sorts of numerous secrets that play time inevitably reveals or unlocks. If you’re a fan of the series, do yourself a favor and purchase the game. Those less accustomed to the Metal Gear universe might want to sit this one out and save their money for the proper release of the full fifth game (which should include Ground Zeros).

Ground Zeros represents an interesting concept. This format of premium, long demos may one day become the norm in the future. Instead of downloading a stripped down demo which only lasts 30 minutes or watching a game trailer, gamers may pay reduced prices for 2 or 3 hour ‘prologs’ to the complete version of a game. I suppose time will tell. But, HK and Konami usually have their fingers on the pulse of the gaming industry and can tell you which direction things will go in. I only wished the main campaign had been a bit longer or the price a bit lower.

If you are interested in playing this game, you purchase it in the following formats:

]]>http://www.gamesniped.com/2015/01/15/metal-gear-solid/feed/4The List of Survival Horror Games (Cont’d): My Favorite Scariest Games on the PC and Consoleshttp://www.gamesniped.com/2014/10/28/scariest-games/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2014/10/28/scariest-games/#respondTue, 28 Oct 2014 15:55:58 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=25044Hey, guys. Welcome back. As I mentioned last week, my list of my favorite survival horror games felt a bit skimpy to me. So this week, I've decided to flesh out the list to include general horror video games (be they adventure, survival, or action horror). Let's check out my favorite scariest games on the PC and Consoles.

Condemned: Criminal Origins - Condemned is sort of like Amnesia's more action oriented step brother (although, obviously, Condemned was released long before Amnesia). This game is chock full of soupy thick atmosphere as you hunt down a serial killer through trash strewn underground environments. It features a solid melee system which is good since ammunition is very scarce. This game just barely missed out on my survival horror list last week.

Dead Island - Other zombie games such as Left4Dead may have a more serious delivery, but Dead Island is sort of like the 'greatest hits' of zombie culture. You get procedural generated weapons, both running/walking zombies, and a free form landscape to romp around in. For me, the Dead Islands are just plain fun (which is the essential point of a video game in the first place). Make sure you buy the PC version so you can mod it.

Silent Hill (PS1) - I know that I said SH 4 is my favorite. I still stand by that view (ducks to avoid glass bottle). But, who can deny the impact of the first Silent Hill game. This game introduced the J-Horror genre to western audiences well before the Ring or the Grudge ever made their way over here.

Dead Space - Resident Evil 4...in spaaaaaace. In all honesty, Dead Space has enough atmosphere and NOPENOPE moments to creep out even the most avid horror game lover out there. Best of all, this game doesn't totally rely on action sequences cheap jump scares (looking at you RE 4).

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem - Ah Eternal Darkness. You can't make a proper horror game list without including this one. Truly a masterpiece. For those of you who still haven't played it, I don't want to ruin anything for you. Just, do yourself a favor and play it as soon as possible. The game mechanics are incredible.

SCP Containment Breach - It's terrifying and free! Cudos to the eye blink system (which is much scarier than it probably sounds).

Sanitarium - Sanitarium is a classic 90's PC horror game where you journey through your warped psyche. If you don't like dealing with discs, you can always download a DRM free version of the game at GOG.

Fatal Frame - SH1 may have introduced western audiences to the J-Horror style with its creepy, haunted midwestern town. But, Fatal Frame was absolutely saturated in the genre with it glacial, nihilism inducing pacing and pants wetting ghosts. This game is made of so much win for you horror lovers out there. If you haven't played it, stop reading this and go do so at once!

]]>http://www.gamesniped.com/2014/10/28/scariest-games/feed/0The Comprehensive Collection of Valve Swag!http://www.gamesniped.com/2014/08/28/comprehensive-collection-of-valve-swag/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2014/08/28/comprehensive-collection-of-valve-swag/#respondThu, 28 Aug 2014 17:24:21 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=24954"Good work getting this far, future starter! That said, if you are simple-minded, old, or irradiated in such a way that the future should not start with you, please return to your primitive tribe and send back someone better qualified for testing."Â We here at GameSniped absolutely love Valve Software games and Gabe Newell! That's why we put together this comprehensive collection of Valve swag gaming goodness: the best way to celebrate this company's genius is to become a fanboy and buy up everything they've made (or others made in relation to their games). Don't forget to tell us what you think of the list in the comment section below. If we're missing anything, tell us that too!

]]>http://www.gamesniped.com/2014/08/28/comprehensive-collection-of-valve-swag/feed/0Resident Evil 6 Limited Edition XBOX 360 Contest Consolehttp://www.gamesniped.com/2013/06/06/resident-evil-6-limited-edition-xbox-360-contest-console/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2013/06/06/resident-evil-6-limited-edition-xbox-360-contest-console/#commentsFri, 07 Jun 2013 00:02:45 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=22188Seems like this LE console came from an XBOX Swagfest Twitter Contest. Love the graphics on this. No idea how many were made or how this is printed.

]]>http://www.gamesniped.com/2013/05/21/more-nwc-stuff/feed/0Press Kitshttp://www.gamesniped.com/2013/04/28/press-kits/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2013/04/28/press-kits/#respondSun, 28 Apr 2013 09:47:51 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=20785In my mind, with the release of the Playstation 1 came the birth of the press kit. There isn't a clear definition of what a press kit is, but most collectors agree that it should at least contain a (promo) copy of the game. These kits are sent to journalists and reviewers to present their new game in a special way and they often contain amazing extra's that were never available for the average customer.

The rarest kits aren't necessarily the most expensive ones, and the first Playstation 1 kits are extremely rare but never fetch big amounts. Lately, current gen press editions of big series such as Uncharted and Bioshock command a high price.

Nowadays a lot of brochures and promo items get sold on eBay as "press kits", but only a select few games get a real press kit release.

]]>http://www.gamesniped.com/2013/01/30/xbox-360-faceplates/feed/0Limited Edition XBOX 360 Osiris Skateboard Promo Shoeshttp://www.gamesniped.com/2013/01/29/limited-edition-xbox-360-osiris-skateboard-promo-shoes/
http://www.gamesniped.com/2013/01/29/limited-edition-xbox-360-osiris-skateboard-promo-shoes/#commentsWed, 30 Jan 2013 01:13:36 +0000http://www.gamesniped.com/?p=19606Seller claims they are from a Facebook contest and were limited to 35 pairs. I can find no more details however.